The Press., 1887-07-14
WASHINGTON LETTER.

The other day when an investigation of the accounts of Levi Bacon, late financial clerk of the pension office revealed the fact that he was a defaulter in tie sum of $33, GOO, the wonder and excitement of the clerks, whoa few days before, had solemn lY resolved that the death of such an otfc- ial was public calamity and that his de- votion to duty and sterling integrity were worthy of emulation and admiration, may be faintly imagined but not accurately de- scribed. It had been Bacon's custom to prepay the salaries of his friends for months in advance, one had drawn $500 more than was due, and so quite a number of the clerks felt sorrow very personal, for scores of due-bills had told their own story. The secretary gave stringent or ders to deduct these amounts from the salaries of the delinquents, and as result some of them will not handle any govern ment cash in several months. Mir. James l.. Norris, chairman of the democratic ex- ecutive committee of the District of Col umbia, prominent patent attorney, is al- so a sincere mourner, being one of Bacon's bondsmen.
 The one hundred and forty y-niuth call for $19, ZIG, 600 per cent. bonds matured on July 1st, and since then $15, ,512, 500 of the bonds have been redeemed by the treas ury department leaving $4, ,204, 300 of that call outstanding. Of the bonds redeemed $11 ,0o0, 900 have been deposited with the United States Treasurer to secure nation al circulation. Tho 3 per cent. loan amount ed to $302, ,259, ,000, all of which has been called, but the amount redeemed 10 date is $294, ,019, ,950, leaving 6 balance outstand- ing of $8, ,139, ,050.
 Since the 1st inst the treasury has paid out about 12, ,000, 900 in pensions and so far l for fhia month tho 1ialNn aynnad the receipts by more than $9,000, ,000 and there is every prospect that this ratio will be maintained, If not increased throughout the month. At the treasury department it is claimed that the heavy disbursements to be made between now and Sept. lst, will reduce the surplus in the treasury to about $36, 100000 But after then, what Un- less there is some unforeseen relief the ov- erhow in the treasury vaults will continue, producing such widespread and ruinous panic that one shudders when contemplat- ing the consequences.
 Rev. Alexander Cummel, D. D., rector of St. Luke e's Episcopal church in Wash ington, and one of the ablest and most dis tinguished of colored men, has written an interesting and instructive paper on the social and moral progress of his race in this city, ill which he holds, among other things that "Since emancipation fully one third of the black race has risen to su- periority which runs parallel With tho lev el of white society in this country" Writ ing of the condition of his people in the south he says ."The freed people of the south are fleeing in large numbers from the rural districts and overhowing both the large cities on the Atlantic seabord and most of the great internal cities and inland towns What causes this vast exodus :? obiaAxy t,, oil Df aaf,ni serfdom into which the black farming pop ulation is held, and which has taken the place of the old system of slavery" He goes on to show that by means of the odi- ous tenant system of the south the colored people, as a rule, are prevented from ac- quiring landed interests, and that they are held in perpetual bondage of debt, from which they finally flee in sheer desperation, seeking refuge where they may. And to such causes as these I attribute the recent outbreaks in South Carolina and Louisiana.
 At last MT. Cleveland's war substitute comes to the front, and makes in substance thls statement, which is attested by three credible witnesses. That his name is Geo. Brinski and that Grover Cleveland paid him $150 to act as his substitute, which service he faithfully performed that MT. Cleveland promised to help him should he survive the war that he is now old, poor and enfeebled by disease that he is friend. less and the inmate of a soldiers and sailors hospital, at Bath, N. J.
 The glorious Fourth was generally, though not publicly, celebrated; most oi the citizens of Washington sought recrea. ton Tn the surrounding counties. The small boys remained in the city and ex' plotted their patriotism with fire crackers.
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